October 9, 2016

For six months until September, more electricity came from
sunlight than coal-fired power stations

Solar
panels generated more electricity than coal in the past six
months in a historic year for getting energy from the sun in the UK, according
to a new analysis.

Research by the Carbon Brief website found that solar generated nearly
7,000 gigawatt hours of electricity between April and September, about 10 per
cent more than the 6,300GwH produced by coal during the same period.

The figures represent a dramatic turnaround in the UK’s
electricity supplies.

The first ever day when solar produced more than coal was
only on 9 April – when there was no coal-fired electricity for the first time
since 1882. But then May became the first ever month when this happened.

Solar capacity nearly doubled in 2015, but has been hit
hard by cuts to Government support, which is currently needed to persuade
investors to build any kind of power generation, including fossil fuels.

James Court, head of policy at the Renewable Energy Association,
said: “Solar overtaking coal this summer would have been largely unthinkable
five years ago.

“This new data shows its popularity amongst homeowners and
businesses and its falling costs. Now that we have a significant global and
domestic industry, solar is one of the cheapest forms of power.

“Government policy stability is critical, however. Solar PV
deployment in August 2016 was one third of what it was in August 2015 due to
the sudden and severe changes to policy in the past year.”

'Dangerous' climate change could arrive as early as 2050

The trend is unlikely to continue. Because there is less
sunlight and a rise in demand for heating and lighting during the winter
months, coal will once again overtake solar.

However scientists have recently been working on using a
novel technology to store energy from the summer sun until it is
needed in the winter.

And energy storage systems, which solve potential
intermittency problems with some renewable generators, have been increasing.

“The role for solar is significantly expanding as we develop
complementary energy storage technologies, but we need government support to
continue to achieve its potential,” Mr Court said.

A report by the Renewable Energy Association found there
were now 35 grid-scale electricity storage projects and at least 1,500
residential ones, totaling about 3.2GW.

These include hydro schemes, where electricity can be used
to pump water uphill so that it can be used to drive turbines when needed.

Gluts of renewable electricity can cause prices to go very
low or even negative, which happened
in Germany among other countries.

The latter scenario means those with storage capacity can
make money twice: once when they are paid to take electricity from the grid and
again when the electricity is used at a time when electricity prices turn
positive again.

Frank Gordon, a senior policy analyst at the Renewable
Energy Association, said: “Energy storage has great potential in the UK, and
can unlock billions worth of savings according to the Government’s
advisers.

“Our research indicates that there are multiple gigawatts of
capacity that are being proposed or are ready to be developed, but a joined-up
and supportive policy structure is critically needed.”

The Government announced last year that it planned to phase
out what it called “unabated” coal-fired power stations by 2025.

This suggests emissions would need to be at least partially
“abated” or reduced by that date. The Government has not said what level would
be allowed.

Juliet Davenport, chief executive of renewable energy
supplier Good Energy, said: "Renewable energy has been an unbelievable
success story in the UK and around the globe.

"When I started my company 15 years ago, you could fit
the whole UK renewable energy industry into a small room, and now nearly 25 per
cent of the UK’s power comes from renewables.

"We've also seen a renewable revolution on people's
rooftops with more than 750,000 UK homes generating their own energy from the
sun.

“As clean technology advances, Britain is bidding farewell
to coal. The transition to a 100 per cent renewable future is within Britain's
grasp.”